Christmas-tree stand.



A. P. BANNER.

CHRISTMAS TREE STAND.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1914.

1 9 1 2'?,@ a v Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

A TTOR/VEVS ALBERT P. BANNER, 0F. BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

menace.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT P. DANNER, a

citizen of the United States, andresident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Christmas- Tree Stands, of which the following is a specification. 1 i

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in foldable and portable Christmas tree stands.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a stand of the above class that is adapted to supporting Christmas trees, and the like, and which can be readily opened up ina manner to receive and support a tree, and which can thereafter be closed together in a way to occupy a comparatively small space. Further to design the strueture so that the same can be inexpensively manufactured. from sheet and cast metal, andfin a way to permit the said parts to be pivotally cpnnected together by suitable rivets or specification, and upon which similar characters of reference will be found. to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures, and of which,

Figure 1, shows a side elevation of my improved Christmas tree stand set out and in position to receive and support a tree. Fig. 2 shows a top plan'view of Fig. 1, but having one leg broken away. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the stand shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but in a folded or closed position. Fig. 4 shows a top plan or end view of the stand in a closed position, and Fig. 5, shows an enlarged side elevation of the central casting or base to which the several legs are pivotally connected.

' As before stated the device is made largely of sheet metal strips, that are first formed and punched, and then pivotedly connected together and to the co-acting base and ring members. The cast parts include a central base upon which the bottom end of the tree rests and a girdling or ring member through Specification Letters Patent.

' Patented Feb. 9,1915.

Application filed August 29, 19 14. SerialNo.859,143.1 J

' which the trunkof the tree is placed to be I supported upon the base member. The sheet metalmembers comprise a series of legs and bracesthat are pivotally connected to the" base and ring membersiin a Way to 'firmly brace the tree and hold it in an upright position. Inthe structure shown I have used three setsof legs and braces for supporting the base and ring, but it :will be obvious that four or five sets might be used if referred. V

eferring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawings 10 represents the girdling ring which as before stated is preferably formed of cast metal.

A series of,ripreferably three, lugs llare formed-upon the outside of this ring and project "radially therefrom for the pivotal connection of the upper ends of the several braces 12 which in turn are pivotally connected to the legs 13. A series of set screws 1-1 are arranged in the girdling ring and are designed to be screwed'in or out to engage and clamp the trunk ot the tree.

The base member 15 is of special construction and includes an integral and upwardly disposed central pointed pin 16 that in practice is designedmo enter the central portion of the bottom end of the tree trunk 17 in a way to hold it against sidewise movement. The base of the support is provided with a series of shouldered sockets 18 in which the before mentioned legs 13 are operatively connected. 'The inner ends of these legs are seated in the sockets and pivotally connected to the base by means of rivets 19 which pass directly through the said supporting member and the end of the'legs in a Way to leave the said legs free to be adjusted from a vertical to a horizontal position.

When the stand is opened up as shown in Fig. 1 and the several legs disposed in a l radial and horizontal position, the upper edge portions of the inner ends of the said braces, are seated against the top shoulders 20 of the base so that the said base will'be firmly supported above the floor or ground, upon which the stand is arranged. The outer ends of the braces are pivotedly connected to the intermediate portions of the legs so that when the device is opened up the said braces will be arranged at an angle.

of about forty-five degrees with reference to the legs, and thus serve to better support the tree from falling over sidewlse. The

no I

outer end of the legs may be curled around as shown to form sockets 21 to receive the studs of roller casters 22 as shown, thus 7 1 allowing the stand and tree to be readily 5 a stand is adapted to be opened up to receive:

shifted from one place to another, if desired. From the foregoing it will be seen that my a tree, and whenproperly opened and supr [ported upon the floor forms a rigid supa; "port in which the, tree can be set without QJ having to arrange the legs orbraces after the v trce'is put'in position. If the trunkof the 7 tree happens to besinaller than the opening through the girdlingring, it is simply necessary to adjust the screws to clamp the tree,

radially arranged slots in its under side and cut to form. shouldered top portions, a series ofvlegs one end of which are pivoted in the saidvslots so that the top of the said legs pivotedly connected to the intermediate portions of each of said legs, a girdling ring having a series of lugs formed thereon and it to whichthe other end of thebraces are,

pivotedly connected, and a series of set Wlll engage the shoulders of the slots, a series of braces one end of each of which are screws arranged in the said girdling ring to engage a tree when seated therein,- the whole arranged so that the said girdling ring' i's' above the braces and in vertical alinement with the base and so that the complete' 'device may be folded togethen,

{ 2, In a tree holder of the class described,

the combination of a base having a pointed pin tocengage a ytre'ei trunk and having a; vseries, of radially arranged slots in its under sideand cut to form shouldereditop portions, a series of legs one end of which are pivoted in the saidslotsgso. that the topedge of thesaid legs will engage the shoulders of the slots a girdling ring having a series'of lugs formed thereon, a series of braces one end of which are pivotedly connected to the ring and th'other to the legs,

and a series of set screws arranged in the said girdling ring to engage a tree when seated therein, the whole'arranged'so that the said girdling ring is above the'braces and in vertical alinement with the base and so that the complete device may be folded together. Y

Signed ateBrid'geport in the county of ,Fairfield and State of Connecticutthis 20th day of -August A. D., 191

ALBERT P; BANNER. Witnesses: i I

- C. M. NEWMAN, RUTH M. Wononn. 

